It’s time for our week 3 college football picks! Alex and Jake are back to break down their favorite games of the weekend, starting in the Big Ten. In the meantime, check out this week’s ‘Not Here To Play School Pod’ where we broke down all of the action from week 2. Also available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Let’s get into our week 3 college football picks! We’re starting in Jake’s home state of Illinois.
Alex’s Picks
#7 Penn St at Illinois
I’m starting my week 3 college football picks with the biggest Big Ten game on the slate. FOX’s Big Noon kickoff will be at Illinois for what should be a great atmosphere. Some people will tell you the last time these teams faced off it was a classic, but as someone who actually watched that game, it was anything but. In 2021 Illinois came to State College and upset the then #7 Nittany Lions in a game with 9 overtimes! The only problem? The score was 20-18, between the 3rd and 7th OT no team could get a 2-point conversion, in the 8th both teams finally found the end zone again and in the 9th Illinois completed the upset. It was terrible, this week’s game will most likely not be like that at all.
#7 Penn St
The Nittany Lions enter Week 3 as one of the 7 teams in the country averaging 50+ points a game. They also enter as -14.5 point favorites on the road. The last two weeks Penn St has showcased different parts of the offense to keep opposing defenses guessing, this week I expect a heavy dose of QB Drew Allar as Illinois sports the 100th best-passing defense in CFB through 2 weeks. If he can continue the excellent play, PSU can keep the moniker of being a 50+ team.
Illinois
The Fighting Illini enter the game allowing 31 points per game, their defense has taken a major step back since last season where they were the Big Ten leader only allowing 12.3 ppg. The offense and run game are especially not where they want to be after losing RB Chase Brown to the NFL. Brett Bielema is a solid coach and will try to control the clock against the high powered Penn St offense but will it be enough to pull off another upset?
Nah Penn St wins AND covers.
#8 Washington at Michigan St
A fun stat to look at with this game, Washington leads all-time 3-1, but that one loss was in East Lansing. Both of these teams are averaging over 44 points a game albeit against lesser caliber teams. Peacock gets to air a battle between two QBs with impressive starts to the season leading high powered offenses. What more could you ask from a future Big Ten Rivalry?
# 8 Washington
Michael Penix Jr. has looked every bit the Heisman candidate he was predicted to be before the season started. Through two games he has 859 yards and 8 TDs with only 1 Int. Last year he set Washington passing records with the most passing yards in a single season and third most passing TDs. If he keeps up the pace he’s on now he’ll break his own records and make Washington a real contender.
Michigan St
MSU has not had a good week. Monday, HC Mel Tucker was fired following allegations of sexual harassment. Not the best mindset for these players to have to contend with when they play a ranked team. Their QB Kai Horton has 571 yards and 5 TD with no turnovers to start the year, coming off a Big Ten Offensive Player of the week performance, can he lead Mich St past the adversity to become 3-0?
I’m picking Washington but a cover by Mich St (+16.5)
South Carolina at #1 Georgia
Not a prestigious rivalry, in the wise words of the great former South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier; “Traditionally, we’ve only had Clemson because we haven’t anybody enough to have any more rivals.” But a rivalry nonetheless between these two regional close SEC teams. Georgia leads all-time 54-19-2 and has won the last 3, they enter as 27.5-point favorites at home on Saturday.
South Carolina
Last year the Gamecocks pulled off two huge upsets against #5 Tennessee and #8 Clemson in back-to-back weeks. Beating the number #1 in the country isn’t a given obviously but Shane Beamer’s team is built to pull off the unthinkable. QB Spencer Rattler has been impressive this year even with the loss to UNC Week 1, but he’ll need to play like the Spencer Rattler we saw in the back half of last season if they have any chance of pulling off the upset.
#1 Georgia
The Bulldogs have become the new Alabama in college football. Extremely dominant and it’s kinda expected that they’ll go undefeated on the way to the National Championship game. Under first-time starter Carson Beck the reigning champs have looked every bit the team we expect them to be. This is their first real test of the season after beating down UT Martin and Ball St the last two weeks. I expect to see the most of TE Brock Bowers that we have all year.
I’ll be bold here, South Carolina wins a close one.
Jake’s Picks
Colorado State @ #18 Colorado
I have to start my week 3 college football picks in Boulder.
Jay Norvell went and poked the bear. He went after Deion Sanders earlier this week, questioning the way he dresses for media obligations.
If you have been following Deion for the last 30 years, you know that wasn’t going to slide.
The Buffs are 23.5-point favorites as of this writing. Last week, they were only 3-point favorites at home against rival Nebraska and routed them by 22.
Shedeur Sanders continues to run the Sean Lewis offense to perfection, to the tune of 903 yards in two games.
Colorado State’s only game so far this year? They allowed 50 to Washington State in a loss. At home.
Expect points. And there’s no reason to doubt Sanders and Colorado yet, especially against inferior competition at home.
Colorado -23.5 Over 61
#11 Tennessee @ Florida
Tennessee is looking for its first win in The Swamp since 2003(!!!). It’s going to be tough sledding for the Vols. After a solid week one performance, dominating Virginia 49-13, the offense struggled a bit last week in a 30-13 win over Austin Peay. Perhaps looking ahead to Florida this week?
Meanwhile, Florida bounced back after losing at Utah in week 1. They dominated McNeese State 49-7, with 327 of their 560 yards coming on the ground.
The home team has dominated this matchup in recent years, but as mentioned before, the Vols are looking for their first win in Gainesville in 20 years.
The QB matchup is interesting and both could have both spectacular and mind-numbing plays throughout the game.
Graham Mertz, the former 5-star QB, transferred from Wisconsin after an unsuccessful stint with the Badgers. In that time though, he did gain some big game experience, and being at home will certainly benefit Mertz, who struggled mightily on the road at Utah.
This is the biggest game of Joe Milton’s career. Hands down. Tennessee is the biggest threat to Georgia in the SEC East, but if they lose to Florida their national title hopes are all but gone. Milton is a transfer from Michigan, in his first year starting for the Vols after backing up Henson Hooker. Josh Heupel’s offense is designed to be QB-friendly.
But nothing can simulate being thrown into the arena.
The Swamp. The Third Saturday in September. Night game. The setting will be epic. Will either QB step up? Will they both falter? They are both the keys to winning this massive SEC East showdown.
I’m taking Florida +6.5, U56.5
Last week’s preview can be found here.
One Response
Great show and article.